Heel protector



NOV. 10, 1931. Q RAMEY 1,830,912

HEEL PROTECTOR Filed Feb. 18, 1926 Patented Nov. 10, 1931 PATENT OFFICECHAKEB, RAMEY, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE HEEL PROTECTOR Application medFebruary 18, 1926. erial No. 89,106.

This invention relates to heel protectors and more particularly toprotectors for use on ladies shoes in driving motor vehicles.

In driving a motor vehicle the toes of the drivers feet rest upon theclutch and brake pedals, and the heel portion of the shoe upper restsupon the floor boards. When the pedal is actuated this portion of theshoe and the rear of the heel scrape or rub on the floor boardscratching and marring the surface of the shoe and heel.

It has been roposed to employ a protector shaped to lit this portion ofthe shoe and provided with straps for retaining it in position, one ofwhich extends around the heel and the other of which extends over theinstep of the wearer. The use of these protectors is open to theobjection of unsightliness, especially when worn with pumps or oXfords.

An object of the present invention is the provision of im roved meansfor fastening the upper end o the protector in place.

More specifically the invention comprises a protector having a strap atthe bottom adapted to surround the heel of the shoe and provided with ahook at the top adapted to be secured over the adjacent upper edge ofthe shoe. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that may beadjusted for use on heels of different sizes and also on different styleheels such as French, Cuban, military heels and the like.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one embodiment of theinvention. In

this showing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a motor vehicle showingthe feet of the driver and showing the protector in place,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the protector removed from the shoe,

Figure 3 is a substantially central vertical sectional view, and,

Figure 4 is a detail view through the body and lower strap substantiallyon line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the referenc numeral 1 designates a portionof the floor W ers seat. At the forward edge ofthe horiboard of a motorvehicle in front of the drivzontal portion of the licor board there isprovided the usual inclined portion having slots 3 throu h which thelever 4 of a brake or clutch pe al 5 extends. The accelerator 6' isconnected to a rod 7 which extends lVhen in this position the rearportion of the shoe upper en ages the surface of the floor board asclear y shown in Figure 1 of the drawings with the heel lOnsubstantiallyparallel to the floor board.

The attachment forming the subject matter of the present inventionconsists of a protector 11 shaped to fit the heel ortion of the shoeupper and the rear o the heel proper. As shown, it consists of an innerlayer 12 which is relatively stili' and an outer layer 13 of suitableleather which may be of any desired shade or colorv to match the shoeswith which it is used. As shown (see Figure 3) the upper andintermediate portion of the protector is elliptical in horizontal crosssection and the bottom is formed in `a. skirt 14 which is substantiallysemi-circular and adapted to lit around the upper rear portion of theheel. A strap 15 of any suitable elastic material is secured to thisskirt and is adapted to surround the heel as shown in Figure 1 of thedrawings.

At the upper end of the protector Iprovide a loop 16 of suitable elasticmaterial which is secured to the edge of the protector in any suitablemanner, as by sewing, and which is adapted to receive the base portion17 of a hook 18. This hook is adapted to engage the upper edge of theshoe when the device is in use.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. The protector when in position will prevent -scratching orotherwise marring the heel portion of the shoe upper or the rear of theheel proper when the foot is moved along the floor board in operatingthe control pedals of the vehicle. As will be noted from Figure 1, thestrap 15 is in engagement with the heel method of attaching of the shoeand exerts a downwardpull on the rotector to produce a firm fit betweenthe gack of the shoe andthe protector. The the protector is such that ifthe driver o the vehicle should fail to remove it when leaving thevehicle, due to forgetfulness, it does not seriously mar the appearanceof the wearers feet.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed y is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A protector for the back of a low shoe and the like comprising, a bodyportion permanently shaped to conform with the 'contour of the back ofthe shoe and covering part of the back portion of the shoe andsubstantially-a'll of the upper portion of the heel, said body portionbeing composed of an inner layer of relatively stiff material capable ofholding its shape and an outer layer secured to the inner layerthroughout, a substantially wide elastic strip secured to the lower endof the body portion and embracing the heel of the shoe, an elasticmember extending from the upper portion of the body portion, and a hookat the end of the elastic member for enga 'ng the upper edge of the backof the shoe in r yieldingly securing the protector 'in operativeposition, said elastic strip exerting a downward pull to produce a firmt between the back of the shoe and the protector;

In testimony whereof Ijalx my signature.

CHAK-ER RAMEY.

